The Ministry of Religious Affairs has warned the public about a fraudulent advertisement circulating under the name “Khuddam al-Hujjaj” in newspapers and on social media, offering Hajj and Umrah service jobs in Saudi Arabia.

The advertisement, which offered Hajj and Umrah service jobs in Makkah and Madinah, published in a local newspaper on December 8, “is from a fake company” with an incorrect registration number from the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), the ministry’s spokesperson said in an X post.

The ministry shared a copy of a fake advertisement by a firm called “Khadmeen Hajj” on X, which falsely claimed to offer service jobs assisting Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah for two years, along with free visas, return tickets and accommodation.

The ministry advised citizens always to verify all company registration details on official government websites, avoid contacting mobile numbers listed in such ads, and use only official landline numbers for correspondence.

It also asked citizens to contact law enforcement authorities in case of any complaints related to these scams, while confirming that action was being taken against those responsible for publishing the fraudulent advertisement.

Princess Charlotte received a very important letter ahead of a special meeting.

The contents of the letter were later revealed by Charlotte’s parents Prince William and Princess Kate. They shared an excerpt to their Instagram Stories on Tuesday, December 12, via the official Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram page. The sweet letter was handwritten especially for 10-year-old Charlotte by the same-aged daughter of Carly Barrett, who received an MBE from King Charles at Windsor Castle the previous day.

“Dear Princess Charlotte,” the letter began, boasting excellent penmanship. “My name is Grace Barrett, and I’m 10 years old, just like you!”

The letter continued, “I’m writing to you because I will be visiting you on December with my mum, Carly Barrett, who is being awarded an MBE for her special work helping people affected with crime. My Nana, Alison Madgin, is also receiving a MBE on the same day.”

Madgin found Samantha’s Charity in 2019 in honour of her late daughter Samantha, who was stabbed to death in 2007. Along with Samantha’s sister Carly, the organisation aims to bring awareness about knife crime, especially among the youth.

Inspired by the strength of her mother and grandmother, Grace wrote in her letter, “I’m really proud of them both and feel [text missing] and honoured to be going with them.” 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have responded to Australia’s landmark decision.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation has issued a statement, praising Australia’s law prohibiting social media access for children under 16, which comes into force on Wednesday, December 10.

The law targets platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat, with companies facing penalties of up to AUD$50million (£24.8million) should they fail to prevent young users from accessing their services.

In a statement titled “Australia Takes Bold Action to Protect Kids Online. But It Shouldn’t Have Come to This”, the rcouple’s Foundation praised the Australian Government’s decisive move while cautioning that the measure represents only a temporary solution to a deeper problem within the technology industry.

The foundation lauded the country for recognising and responding to the harmful impact technology companies have had on young people.

“This bold, decisive action to protect children at a critical moment in their development sends a strong signal that a child’s mind is not a commodity to be exploited,” the statement read.

Archewell described the legislation as giving young people “valuable time back in their childhoods”, though it stressed that the ban does not resolve the underlying problems that continue to plague social media platforms.

The Sussexes’s stance of improved online safety measures has received a sppaial backing with the action as the couple  have long advocated to save children from the social media harm.

The statement painted a stark picture of the damage brought by unregulated platforms: “We’ve heard from too many grieving parents. Too many families devastated by cyberbullying, feeds that radicalize kids toward self-harm, and algorithmic manipulation designed to maximize engagement at any cost.”

“The companies ‘unintended consequences’ of a decade ago are now part of their money making strategy, and children have become their collateral,” the statement declared.

However, the Foundation acknowledged that social media possesses considerable capacity for positive impact, noting that platforms can foster creativity, provide educational resources and help young people discover their communities.